Beer-keg tap.



PATBNTED MAY 26, 1903.

a. \M. BGKBNWILER;

BEER KEG TAP. APPLICATION FILED D30. 15 1902.

N0 Monm.

WITNESSES:

UNTTED STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. EOKENWILER, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID J. MORRIS, OF OANTON,"OHIO.

BEER-KEG TAP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 729,145, dated May 26, 1903. Applicationfiled December 15, 1902. Serial No. 135.177. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may-concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. ECKENWI- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beer-Keg Taps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the plungercasing, its plunger, and showing a section of the fixed valve-head and illustrating the different parts pertaining thereto properly assembled. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the liquid valve-chamber, its valve, and different parts belonging thereto. Fig. 3 is a view showing the bottom or lower end of the drafttube and its inlet-thi'mble. Fig. 4 is a view showing the fixed valve head, the valvechambers, and the different parts pertaining thereto. Fig. 5 is a view showing the lower portion of the plunger-casing. Fig. 6 isa longitudinal section of the plunger. Fig. 7 is a detached view of the gasket. Fig. Sis a bottom or under side View of the plunger, showing the gasket removed.

The present invention has relation to taps for beer-kegs; and it consists in the novel arrangement hereinafter described, and parlicularly pointed out in the claims.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents the plunger-casing, the bottom or lower end of which is provided with the connectingflanges 2, which are for the purpose hereinafter described.

Within the casing l is normally located the.

plunger 3, which is properly fitted to the easing in such a manner that it can move up and down,'or, in other Words,a reciprocating movement can be imparted to said plunger. The

trated in Fig. 1. The top or upper ends of said tubes are formed so that a flexible hose can be easily attached and detached. The bottom or lower ends of the passages 4 and 5 are each provided with cross-barsSand 9, said cross-bars being for the purpose hereinafter described. The head 10 is screw-threaded at its upper portion to receive the screw-threads, being for the purpose of properly connecting the head to one of the keg-heads or to any other desired part of the keg-heads. The top or upper end ofthe head'lO is provided with the flange 11, which flange is seated into the head of the keg, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and is for the purpose of providing a contactsurface for the flanges 12, formed upon the bottom or lower end of-the plunger-casing 1. The inward-projecting lips 13 are for the purpose of providing a means for connecting the plunger-casing 1 to the head 10 by means of the flanges 2, and for the purpose of bringing the flanges 2 below the lips 13 the spaces or recesses 14 are provided, said flanges 2 being fast through the recesses 14, after which the casing 1 is rotated until the flanges 2 come under the lips 13, and for the purpose of stopping the rotation of the casing 1 when the easing 1 is properly locked the stop-flange 15 is provided, which stop-flange is located at one end of one of the lips 13, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The top or upper end of the head 10 is provided with the chamber 16 and the bottom or lower portion thereof provided with the screw-threaded apertures 17 and 18, into which said screw threaded apertures are seated or connected the valve-cylinders 19 and 20, said cylinders being provided with flanges 21 and 22, the valve 19 being the liquid-valve and the valve the air one. To the valves 19 and 20 are attached the valve-rods 23 and 24, which valve-rods are extended above and below the valves. The valve-cylinders 19 and 20 are each provided with the down ward-extending bars 25 and 26, to thebottom or lowerends of which are attached the cross-bars 27 and 28, which crossbars are for the purpose of providing guides for the valve-rods 23 and 24 and at the same time provide rests for the springs 28 and 29, said springs being for the purpose of automatically closing the valve when the valverods 23 and 24 are released, as hereinafter described. The plunger 3 is provided with pins or studs 30, one of which is shown and are located through elongated slots 3l,formed in the plunger-casing 1, and are for the purpose of imparting a reciprocating movement to the plunger 3 by means of the yoke-lever 32, said yoke-lever being pivotally attached to the casing 1 in any convenient and wellknown manner. v

It will be understood that when the lever 32 is moved downward it will carry with it the plunger 3 until said plunger is brought into contact with the upper ends of the valvecylinders 19 and 20, and for the purpose of providing a continuous passage between the valve-cylinders and the passages 4 and 5 in the plunger the gasket 33 is provided, which gasket is connected to the bottom or lower end to the plunger and is held to the bottom or lower end thereof by means of the flanges 34, which flanges are spaced from the end of the plunger a sufficient distance to allow the gasket 33 to be placed in proper position.

For the purpose of preventing the gasket from becoming accidentally displaced said gasket is provided with the notches 35, said notches being for the purpose of engaging the lugs 36.

It will be understood that the apertures 37 and 38 shouldat all times register with the passages in the valve-cylinder and the passages in the plunger. I

When the plunger is brought to its lowest point, it will be understood that there are two distinct and separate passages, one for liquid and one for air, and when the plunger is lowered the valves 21 and 22 will be opened by reason of the top or upper ends of the valverods 23 and 24 coming in contact with the cross-bars 8 and 9, said cross-bars being located at the bottom or lower ends of the passages 4 and 5 in the plunger 3, but should be of such a size that they will not interfere with the passage of liquid and air. Forthe purpose of holding the plunger down the lever 32 is provided with the pivoted catch 37, and when said lever is brought to its lowest point said catch-plate is turned so that it will engage the bottom or under edge of the said lip or flange 38, formed upon the plungercasing 1, this feature being illustrated in dotted lines, Fig. 1. t

For the purpose of automatically elevating the plunger with the lever 32 the spring 39 is provided, which spring is located under the pins 30.

For the purpose of removing theliquid from the bottom of the keg the pipe 40 is provided, the top or upper end of which is connected to the downward-extended pipe 41, said downward-extended pipe being preferably formed integral with the head 10 and the pipe 40 and the screwthreaded collar 42.

The pipe 40 is formed of such a length that it will reach to within a short distance to the bottom of the keg proper, and for the purpose of assisting in holding the pipe in proper position at its bottom or lower end the inletthimble 43 is provided, which inlet-thimble is fixed to the bottom of the key by means of the screw or its equivalent 44, said thimble being provided with the inlet-slots 45.

It will be understood that by locating the pipe 40 as shown the contents of the keg can be entirely removed and that said pipe acts as a draft-pipe.

In assembling the different parts the pipe 40 is first connected to the head 10 and said head properly connected to the head of the keg or other parts of the keg where it is desired to attach the head and the inlet-thimble placed in position and secured by means of a long screw-driver or other equivalent device,-after which the valve-cylinders and their connections properly connected to the head.

When it is desired to tap the keg, all that is necessary to do is to connect the plungercasing 1, together with the different parts belonging thereto, to said head, force the lever 32 downward, and lock it in its lowered position, after which air can be forced into the keg and the liquid removed in the usual man-' ner. After the liquid has all been removed from time to time and the keg properly emptied the lever 32 is elevated, the valves closed by means of the springs 28 and 29, after which the keg is ready for shipment and is in a closed condition.

It will be understood that air can be forced into the keg either by a portable air-pump or a fixed one, by which arrangement pressure can be brought upon the liquid for the purpose of draining the same regardless of the location of the keg, thereby providing a means for temporary use at any desired place.

For the purpose of preventing the escape of air an ordinary check-valve, such as 46, should be employed.

Having fully described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination ofa head provided with a flange, lips located at the upper end of the head and the lips provided with stopfianges, a plunger-casing provided with connecting-flanges located at its bottom or lower end, a plunger located within the casing, said plunger provided with a liquid-passage and an air-passage, cross-bars located at the bottom or lower ends of the liquid and air passages, valve-cylinders connected to the head, valves located within the valve-cylinders, said valves provided with valve-rods extended above and below the valve, springs located around the lower portions of the valverods, a draft-pipe connected at its upper end to the head and at its bottom or lower end to an inlet-thimble, and a gasket normally located between the bottom or lower end of the plunger and the top or upper end of the head, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of a head, a draft-pipe secured thereto, said draft-pipe extended near to the bottom of the keg, a fixed inlet-thinlble located at the bottom of the draft-pipe, valve-cylinders secured to the head and the cylinders provided with valves and valve-rods extended above and below the valves, a casing removably attached to the head, said casing provided with a plunger and the plunger provided with liquid and air passages, bars located across the lower ends of the passages in the plunger, a lever pivoted to the plunger-casing and operatively connected to the plunger and means for lifting the plunger independent of the lever, and means for holding the lever and plunger in a lowered position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of a plunger-casing, a plunger located therein, said plunger provided with liquid and air passages, bars located across the bottom of the passages, a lever pivotally attached to the plunger-casing,

the plunger provided with pins and the pins located through slots formed in the plungercasing, a spring to actuate the plunger in one direction, a catch-plate secured to the plunger-casing and a lever provided with a pivoted catch to engage the catch-plate located upon the plunger -casing, a head provided with cylinders having valves located therein and valve-rods extended above and below the valves, and springs adapted to close the valves when released, and a draft-pipe extended from the head to near the bottom of the keg, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. ECKENWILER.

Witnesses:

J. A. JEFFERS, F. W. BOND. 

